in many ways, gaza reflects the kind of rivalry playing out in syria and elsewhere in the region. hamas relies on iran for military training and its most important weaponry, but there is this tension over syria. it's in syria's interest right now to see all the world's attention focused on gaza rather than on damascus to take some of the pressure off. these relationships in the region are shifting. part of what we're seeing, little gaza, it's important not just for what happens on israeli issues but the wider dynamics of the shifting sands across the middle east. >> let me ask you a question about what happens with hamas, depending how this plays out. there's one theory, dennis ross from the washington institute of near east policy said this on monday. he said one of the things that may have affected hamas' there's sympathy in egypt for what's going on. war with israel is not attractive to egypt, that there's a risk. and helene cooper said although president obama uttered immediate and public and private assurances that israel has a right to defend itself, blah, blah, blah, they'r